Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-06
A Girl BuII-FfShter.

Just prior to the taking effect of the de-
 cree against bull-fghting I was fortunate enough to witness contest in which one of the most skillful, daring and expert of the Prosessional fighters of Mexico took a lead ing part, writes City of Mexico correspon-
 dent to the Indianapolis Journal. The per-
 former was young woman, whose equal has
 probably never appeared in the 'tPlaza de
 Toros." In this, her farewell exhibition,
 Senorita Hernandez advertised for the wild
 est and fercest bulls the country could pro-
 dace, and agreed to fight them while wearing stilts. The novelty of a young girl engaged in a bull-fght, handicapped by having stilts fastened to her feet, was sufficient to attract vast crowd. and on the day fixed for the event fully five thousand persons found places to sit or stand in the large amphithea- | ter. The animals provided for the occasion were small, active and wholly untamed, each having h1s horns trimmed and polished until the points were as bright and almost as sharp as needles.
 Never was more expert work done in this
 cruel sport than was coolly performed by the Mexican girl on that day. As the bull, mad with rage, would make his furious charge l she would stand until he had approached | within distance of about three feet, when, suddenly springing to one side, she would, as the animal rushed furiously by, with one hand slap him in the face with the red cloak with which his anger had been first aroused, while with the other hand she dexterously thrust into his neck gaudy barbed 'tban- | derilla," causing him to roar with pain and l rage. Charge after charge was made by the maddened brute, only to be eluded by the I active girl, while the bull met the same treat
 ment as before. The little senorits played I with him, plagued him and tortured him as | 8 cat would mouse, until the animal, bleed ing and sore, and worn out with fatigue and pain, gave up the contest and would fight no more. He had met his conqueror and was l taken from the ring.
 In the next contest the fair Castilian was | under an advertised obligation, while yet wearing the stilts, to kill the bull with a sword scarcely more than two feet in length. ] This to be done by the toreadora at the | time the animal was making the charge, the ! fatal thrust to be given while she was direct
 ly in front of and fairly facing the bull. The animal selected for this contest a 1 beautiful specimen of his race. Black coal, agile as a cat, savage and wild, he was ! no sooner within the arena than he ready for the battle. After he had been permitted to make a charge or two to warm him to his work the Governor, who presided on the oc l oasion, gave signal and the bugle sounded | the ''death call" The senorita. with stilts of one foot in height securely fastened to | her limbs, received the short sword, saluted I the Governor, and turning to her enemy, gave a shout of defiance and waved her soar let cloak to arouse his anger. At this time 1 the distance separating the antagonists was | almost two hundred feet Toro, quivering l with excitement and paving the earth in his I rage, waited for second invitation. With | flashing eyes and head lowered to the ground he started at full speed for the object of his hate. The brave girl waited until the beast was within twenty feet, when, bracing her self firmly, she held the sword at shoulder
 height, ready for his coming.
 When within about four feet she threw her body suddenly forward, gave quick thrust with her sword and, without waiting to see
 the effect of the blow, swung quickly around
 and again saluted the Governor In the 1 twinkling of eye she turned to face the bull, and she did so he dropped dead, so 1 close to her that, without moving from her | position, she placed one foot upon the neck l of her now helpless enemy.
 The sword, directed by the strong arm of the self possessed girl, had severed the spinal l cord and death was instantaneous and proba- ply painless. It was perilous feat skillful- | ly and fearlessly performed, and the slight I est nervousness on the part of the performer | would probably have resulted in death. The ! great audience, in recognition of the skill of l the brave toreadora, rose to it's feet, and for several moments there was a shower of gold | and silver coins falling around the victorious girl,